An Examination of the 1968-1969 Urban Indian Hearings Held by the National Council on Indian Opportunity. Part IV: The Indian Center.

Woods, Richard G.; Harkins, Arthur M.

Throughout the 1968-1969 hearings of the National Council on Indian Opportunity (NCIO), interest was shown repeatedly in the development of Indian centers within urban areas. Existing Indian centers in the cities visited by the NCIO were marginally funded operations which nevertheless fulfilled important functions such as intake and referral; housing assistance; recreation and sports for children and youth; legal aid; employment assistance; and provision of a social gathering place, a mailing address for those without a permanent residence, and a site for the preservation of Indian culture. Quite positive feelings and aspirations about the functions of an urban Indian center were common among the Indian witnesses. Statements of plans and hopes for Indian centers sometimes contained references to hoped-for funding sources. Most often, it was expected that Government funds would have to be provided, and there were indications that the funding of urban Indian centers should be regarded as a responsibility of established Government agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This report organizes the concerns and characteristics evidenced during the hearings which had to do with the Indian center. Much is included in the way of direct quotations from Indian witnesses. (JH)